Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

MERAKI

growingupmatters

A beautiful lull to this GREEK word..

As all things Greek which I am so fond of, comes this word with a meaning which has a very soulful tone.

Anything that is being done/worthwhile doing ought to be done with LOVE, CREATIVITY and with a SOUL.

The amalgamation of these 3 wondrous words will create MAGIC in our lives and existence and make living so very meaningful.

MERAKI moments to be found in raising kids, in following your passion, in discovering and rediscovering your inner self, in staring at the blank space and seeing beauty in it, in voila! that little punch added to your cooking to give yourself a Michelin star!

ALL and MORE points to a more evolved way of leading life , be it in the realm of your comfort or outside of it. The choice lies in only us to pull ourselves up when the chips are down and to elevate our heights when the going is good. All with BALANCE in place else the toppling and debasing are the only ugly visibles and the beauty of discovering MERAKI is lost somewhere.

Taking one step at a time, no matter how small that step is but steadily climbing with your soul in it will eventually create what you have set out for and in the bargain give you your MERAKI..

General, Mindfulness l, Uncategorized

Comfortably numb or comfortably settled?

growingupmatters

So, with most humanity behind closed doors, so many obvious stuff is made more obvious and has now come out loud and clear..

The general health, here I am addressing the physical one, is better than ever before with strict and somewhere Hitler- like form of stricter adherence to timely intake of edibles. ( the opposite is also true in cases! ). Tall order to be at the table and adherence to it has benefitted the otherwise mind- convincing hacks of consuming meals -when -able kinds and also trial and error with more outside options. The takeaway option does exist and the drive is still there to try and experiment with neatly packaged easy to consume meals but somewhere the resistance is working alongside!

All exciting new experiments in the kitchen by one and all was the rage when this whole wave began; now , with time , all has but ceased to exist..more of us now realise and understand the merits of normalcy where stomachs are concerned. The race to outdo self has now settled in a calm pace and rather than sprinting excitedly on this track, we seem to be happy with a slow walk down the our kitchen’s path. The results are all but seen in many with ” feeling fit ” without the very exhaustive fitness regimen. Basic staple can be so very lovely is now better understood than ever before.

The birds nesting and the young ones showing their beaks was observed almost like a live science show! Their growth patterns and trajectories were marked with a smile what newness and new creations brings forth. The green buzz around all of us became the new buzzword. So far, we have experienced one season changing to the other, willy nilly though, but now the comfortably settled numbness is secretly hoping to see yet another change of season from the confines of our homes. A lot of mind crunching work has also been achieved in this period for a different tomorrow by many , and it’s waiting in the wings to soar. One has to really jog his memory to realize when this kind of a mind resetting exercise was done earlier. The freshness and joy for rejuvenated thinking will definitely bear fruit when we all step out in the new world.

So many mindful thoughts are emanating towards compassion, empathy and the likes that, were it to consume all of us, we would pat ourselves on our backs in its close understanding and relevance. Of course, the zoom meets are waiting to be hurled out of our windows and the mere waves and acknowledgements are waiting for contact approval . This lacuna somehow just can’t be gotten over, and rightfully so for coexistence! No fun in outdoor and car meetings at all..All and more have learned to coexist or will learn soon but the touch and feel, brick and mortar and kick and play is what all of us are really seeking! Till such time, comfortable numbness is becoming the way to move on and probably rightfully so for mental peace and calm.

Mindfulness l, Uncategorized

Short travel tales

growingupmatters

Okay, so the summer and the winter breaks are well thought of where it concerns travel plans, itineraries, how to go, where all to go, with whom to go etc. etc. It’s the joy of the short breaks , rather unplanned last minute ones that makes for a lot of excitement for the kids and us too and makes happy memories for all!

Ask them to pack an overnight bag and a few other things they may want to carry and before you know, it’s their whole world they would like to take! What if I feel like playing cards, what if I find a ground to play football, what if there is a water body to jump into so my swimwear is needed, what if my mood is to draw and the many other whats! It’s fun to see them scrambling about for this and that a day before and the stuff that comes out from their bags one after the other brings that amusing smile to your face! Here you were ranting a day before about the many things they want to carry and there you know why they are there!

On a recent short trip, their joy knew no bounds when amidst exploring lush nature and the many stony paths, a badminton court was put to good use by them. All was lost in game and play and the high of eat, play, walk repeat! It’s these simple explorations and chanced upon properties that make for happy memories. Carefully thought out and planned trips have their own merits but these quick short close- to -home getaways make for equally good breaks, more so when the saturation of daily routine is at its peak for all concerned!

The good part about these less thought of trips is that the many what-ifs are eliminated else the longer the thinking and planning time, the more variables come into the picture and the purpose of a break break is lost! Here, one goes with an open mind and really nothing much goes out of place. If it does, that too is taken in as an experience. Keeping minimal expectations also helps.

So time to pack your bags and head out , away from the routine whenever the mind and heart feels like, keeping all many how’s out and develop a child like attitude into new explorations. The world seems a happier place after you get back, though seriously nothing much has changed in the world but a break changes your attitude toward everything and that is what matters.

General, Uncategorized

Cherishing those clicks!

growingupmatters

With technology and apps becoming our almost survival tools, all of us have tons of pictures and moments so very well captured, saved and neatly tucked away in those little devices. Great usage of technology , great advancement and great going but somewhere , I feel this takes away the pleasure of browsing through good old physical albums and the flip and turn experience.

I put my time and energy in this exercise by sieving through the devices periodically, mostly when I am done with the annual ritual of birthdays which are never missed on the clicks! This clubbed with any vacations or priceless moments taken in the calendar year has worked for me. Those ready to use albums or sometimes personalised versions or better still the hand made ones become my little storage houses . On one of those lazy days, the kids and I savour those precious moments from the toothless smiles to those broken teeth, from then to now, from why to how with gaping awes and many smiles! Getting the physical prints and pasting/ putting them together has so far been very satisfying for me and I hope to carry on with this little tradition I have made for myself.

Agree they will add to the bulk but then I don’t practice the Japanese way of minimalist living either so I don’t allow this to become a weighty issue at all !

May not be a bad idea to revisit those phones, iPads, computers and try to get them out from there for all to see, love and enjoy those many moments!

Uncategorized

Life is NOW!

growingupmatters

Quick thought about life is now!

GrowingupMatters

Everyone is , by now, aware of the universal fact that life is NOW! Still, we go on and on in living with the past, sometimes regret, most times resentment and anger! As the onus to train and teach kids lies with us, why don’t we , sometimes learn this simple PRESENT living from them! The simplicity with which they bounce back from situations is amazing!

Changes of circumstances, residence, school is all taken in its stride..sometimes, the loss of a known acquaintance is also forgotten with time, much to the concern of the caring adult. The adage of “out of sight out of mind ” feels misused at times , but , to give credit to the innocent minds which believes in the TODAY and THE FUTURE IS NOW somehow overtakes any regret! How ,I wish I could be resilient with my daily happenings! Am trying and am sure…

View original post 167 more words

General, Uncategorized

Small learnings

growingupmatters

I have observed that the best way to teach children is through their and your regular daily routine.Each day we go through various chores as a matter of routine and in that if my child’s curiosity is raised as to why mom does certain things everyday, small lessons for life begin to seep in.Cleaning , for one is a regular activity in most households and when I am at it, I give my little ones their little nook and watch them feel proud of their efforts in owning up to their crazy little corner. Sometimes, I amrather persistent , loud and stern with my words much to their dislike but I have felt the need to do so to drive home my point! I seriously don’t think that age is a deterrant to their understanding and learning. Just because they are kids doesn’t make them mess around ! Small habits formed early on stay on for life.

I drive them around everywhere.! At every step, I explain, explain and explain the why’s and the what’s.The  child can learn all his road sense, road manners, car manners, car cleanliness etc.just  by seeing you and observing your behaviour. Again, I may have to repeat my words for effect, so be it! Asking my older one to alight first, then tend to the younger one for ex. , showing empathy along the way to people lesser priveleged than them, explaining that fruit peels and candy wrappers need not decorate my car, etc.etc. All these are small learnings which hopefully will go a long way in their lives.